Atlanta vs Chicago: Cost of Living
Chicago is about 4% more expensive than Atlanta, based on the BEA regional price parity index (U.S. average = 100): Atlanta at 100.058, Chicago at 103.595.
Cost of living (U.S. avg 100)
Atlanta: 100.058
Cost of living (U.S. avg 100)
Chicago: 103.595
Salary parity ($100K in Atlanta)
$104K in Chicago
If you earn $100K in Atlanta, you would need about $104K in Chicago to keep the same standard of living (price levels only; taxes on your specific income are separate).
Rents: the biggest difference
Atlanta
Rent price parity: 111.022 (U.S. average = 100)
Chicago
Rent price parity: 112.01 (U.S. average = 100)
What common jobs pay in each city (after tax)
| Occupation | Median (Atlanta) | Take-home (Atlanta) | Median (Chicago) | Take-home (Chicago) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $133K | $96K | $134K | $96K |
| Data Scientist | $109K | $80K | $108K | $79K |
| Registered Nurse | $100K | $75K | $100K | $75K |
| Accountant | $86K | $65K | $82K | $63K |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102K | $76K | $102K | $76K |
| Marketing Manager | $164K | $115K | $165K | $116K |
| Electrician | $59K | $47K | $102K | $76K |
| Elementary School Teacher | $77K | $59K | $78K | $60K |
| Police Officer | $61K | $48K | $108K | $79K |
| Chef | $75K | $58K | $61K | $48K |
| Financial Analyst | $101K | $75K | $102K | $75K |
| Civil Engineer | $88K | $67K | $100K | $74K |
| Pharmacist | - | - | - | - |
| Physical Therapist | - | - | - | - |
| Dental Hygienist | - | - | - | - |
| Web Developer | - | - | - | - |
| Graphic Designer | - | - | - | - |
| Paralegal | $64K | $51K | $71K | $55K |
| Plumber | - | - | - | - |
| HVAC Technician | $59K | $47K | $78K | $60K |
Taxes at a glance
Take-home assumes a single filer using the standard deduction. Atlanta (Georgia state tax), Chicago (Illinois state tax). A $100K salary nets about $74K in Atlanta vs $74K in Chicago. Full assumptions: methodology.